Cloth-piling machine.



H. A. SHIELDS.

CLOTH PILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION P ILBD umn, 1909.

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CLOTH FILING MACHINE. APPLIUATION HLE'D 11111.11, 1909.

Patented .12,114,1910.

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CLOTH FILING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED v11111.11. 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN.11, 1909.

945,249. Patented Jan-.4, 1910.

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UNITED STATES ALFENT OFFICE.

HARRY A. SHIELDS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO L. C.F.`MACIIINERY COMPANY, OF NASHVILLE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0FMICHIGAN.

CLOTH-FILING MACHINE.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. SHIELDS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of lKent and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCloth-Filing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains to make and usethe same.

y invention relates to cloth piling machines and more particularly tomachines for piling flat fabrics.

It is customary in the manufacture of various cloth goods to first weaveor knit a continuous flat fabric, and then to pile the same insuperposed layers of the proper length for cutting. Unless this fabricis evenly spread when piled the several portions after cutting will beuneven in size and distorted in shape.

The object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty by providing adevice having means for uniformly and evenly smoothing the material andfor automatically piling the same in superposed layers of uniformdimensions one above the other, and also for varying the length of thelayers at the will of the operator, and to provide the same with variousnew and useful features hereinafter more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a side elevation of the same seen from the opposite side; Fig. 3 isan end view of the recipro- 7 ,i eating carriage showing' a portion ofthe 40" main frame with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is an elevation of thecarriage at right angles to Fig. 3 showingA a portion of the frame incross section; Fig. 5 is a'sectional elevation i on the line 5-5 of Fig.4; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carriage with a portion broken away;Fig. 7 is an elevation of the cloth smoothing device showing thecarriage rollers and cloth in position; Fig. 8 is a sectional view onthe line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional View on the line 9-9 ofFig. 7; Fig. l0 is a plan View of one end of Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed January 11, 1909.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910. Serial No. 471,781.

a portion of the frame carrying the sliding rack and cushion spring;Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12is a transverse section of the rack bar and a portion of the frame; Fig.13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. l; Fig. 14 is asectional view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 15; Fig. 15 is an e11- largeddetail of a part of the table operating mechanism seen from the oppositeside from that shown in Fig. 2.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

l represents the main frame of the machine, along the top edges of theupper me1nbers of which traverses the reciprocating carriage, of which 2is the frame. Mounted on the carriage are a pair of rollers 42 and 43,between which the fabric is fed downward as the carriage reciprocates.

Above the rollers and supported on the frame of the carriage is thecloth smoothing device. This consists of the upright members 4 which arefastened to the frame of the carriage and the smoothing bars 5l, 52, 53and 54, which are bolted to the upright members. To properly direct thefabric to this smoother, stationary arms 65 extend upward at each sideof the machine to a suitable distance above the same and a stationaryroller GG is mounted upon these arms. A chute 5 is also provided, whichis preferably the same width as of the fabric to be folded. This chuteis fastened in any convenient location with one end near the roller (56and the fabric is drawn along the chute and over the roller into thesmoother. The two top smoother bars 53 and 54 are convex on the innersurfaces as shown in sectional `View in Fig. 9, to aid in spreading thewrinkles out of the fabric, and also to keep it in the center of themachine. The bars 51 and 52 are convex on their upper and lower edgesrespectively for the same purpose.

.In operation the fabric is drawn along the chute 5 over the roller 66;between the bars 53 and 54 and under the lower convex edge of the bar52, thence upward over the upper convex edge of the bar 5l. Theconvexity of the bars operates to smooth the wrinkles of the fabricmoving the same from the middle toward the margins thereof. This formalso serves to guide the fabric toward the middle of the bars, the sameas a belt tends to run to the highest part of a pulley. The frictionalso puts a slight tension on the goods smoothing the wrinkles out ofthe same and stretching it evenly. It then passes downward over the-bar50, as shown, and is thus fed evenly and smoothly between the rollers 42and 43.

11 is the main driving shaft of the machine and is driven by the pulley12. This shaft is journaled in bearings on the frame 1 and lies 5in achannel in one of the top members of the frame. Downwardly projectingportions of the carriage also extend into the channel in the frame. Oneof these projections forms a bearing for the shaft 11 and is slidablethereon. The other projection carries a sleeve which is splined to theshaft 11 and revolves with the same and also slidable thereon. On oneend of this sleeve is a pinion 14 which drives the gear 15. This gear 15is mounted on and drives the shaft 16 which is journaled in the frame 2of the carriage. Fastened to this shaft is the bevel pinion 17, whichdrives the roller 42 through the bevel gear 21, which is attached to thesame. The roller 43 is driven through the roller 42 by the gears 56 and57, which are attached respectively to the adjacent ends of the rollers42 and 43. The roller 42 is journaled in bearings 44, which are fixed onrods 46. The roller 43 is journaled in bearings 45, which are slidableon the rods 46.

48 are tension springs which force the roller 43 toward the roller 42,thus insuring a firm grip on the fabric.

67 are thumb screws for adjusting the tension of the springs 48.

The shaft 16 being positively driven by the shaft 11, always revolves inthe same direction consequently the rollers are rotated in the samedirection, this being with their adjacent sides moving downward.

18 and 19 are bevel gears revolving freely on the shaft 16 and drivenalternately by the clutch 20, which is splined to the shaft 16,revolving with the same and slidable thereon. Each end of this clutch isprovided with teeth which mesh alternately with corresponding clutchteeth on the gears 18 and 19.

22 is a bevel gear journaled in the frame of the carriage and drivenalternately and in opposite directions by the gears 18 and 19. To thelower ,end of the gear 22 is attached a pinion 23, which meshes with theteeth on the rack and drives the carriage. It will be seen that when theclutch 20, which rotates always in the same direction with the shaft 16is thrown into mesh with the gear 18, the gears 22 and 23 will be madeto rotate and drive the carriage in one direction and the opposite gear19 will turn idly on the shaft 16 and when the clutch is thrown intomesh with the opposite gear 19, the gear 18 will turn idly on the shaftand the rotation of the gears 22 and 23 will be reversed also changingthe direction of the travel of the carriage.

To shift the clutch a shifter arm 24 is provided, pivoted at its upperend to the frame of the carriage, its lower end coming in contact ateach end of the travel of the carriage with one of the stops 41, whichare in a T- slot in the main frame and adjustable therein to adjust thedistance of travel of the carriage thereby determining the length of thelayers of the fabric. Behind the upper end of the arm 24 and swinging onthe same pivot are cam levers 30 and 31 and between these levers is ashouldered rocker 29 all three being fastened to the arm 24 andoscillating with the same. The yoke 47 is fastened to a shifter rod 33,which is slidable in lugs on the frame and is moved with the rod 32through the connecting block 34.

36 and 38 are collars fastened to the rod 32 and engaged by the springs35 and 37. A sliding collar is provided on the rod 32, which is actuatedby the levers 3() and 31, and which engages the springs 35 and 37 whichoperate to slide the rod 32 back and forth. Latches 25 and 26 areprovided pivoted to the frame and with shoulders which alternatelyengage the collars 36 and 38, and hold the same till released by theaction of the shouldered rocker 29, which engages the free end of eachof the latches.

27 and 28 are spring push rods, which hold the latches in position. j

In operation during one stroke of the carriage, the clutch 20 is held inposition by the engagement of the shoulder on one of the latches 25 or26 against one of the collars 36 or 38 through the parts 32, 34, 33 and47. At the extreme end of the stroke, the arm 24 engages one of thestops 41, oscillat ing the arm and its attachedv parts 29, 3() and 31.The collar 49 is shifted on the rod 32, putting a tension on one of thesprings 35 or 37 The latches are also moved by the action of theshouldered rocker 29, one up and the other down.. At the end of theoscillation of the arm, the latch engaging the collar suddenly releasesits hold allowing the rods 32 and 33 to shift under spring tension ofthe spring 35 or 37, as the case may be, thus suddenly shifting theclutch 20 and instantly reversing the motion of the carriage asheretofore described, the other latch springing into place and holdingthe clutch in position. This sudden and unyielding reversal of thedriving mechanism of the carriage puts such a strain on the device thatany high speed is impossible without heavy shocks and risk of breakingsuch parts as the rack and pinion,

provided at each end with cushion springs 59. The tension of thesesprings may be adjusted by screws 61.

62 is a friction spring (several of which are used) which spring acts asa brake to hold the rack in position with the spring 59 under tensionuntil shifted by the momentum of the carriage. Either the springs 59 or62 will operate to control the rack movement, but I prefer to use both.Located beneath the carriage is a platforn 6L which is automaticallylowered step by step as the material is accumulated thereon. Thisplatform is mounted upon ways 6 attached at their respective ends tovertically extended sprocket chains 85, which chains pass aroundsprocket wheels 90 at the top and bottom of the frame and extend nearthe respective corners of the platform. These ways are connected to thechains by brackets 89 and are guided in their vertical movement by eyes88 fastened to the Ways and sliding upon guide rods 84 fastened to theframe. The platform is slidable on theseways so that when filled, it canbe run out from beneath the carriage and outside of the frame forremoval of the material thereon. To support the outer end of theplatform when so removed, it is provided With legs 86 having rollers 87to engage the floor. The upper sprocket wheels 90, which support thechains 85 are connected 1n pairs at the respectivev ends of the machineby shafts 79. These shafts being connected by sprocket wheels 82 and achain passing around these wheels to cause them to rotatesimultaneously.

The platform is lowered step by step, and held by means of a drum 8which is fastened to the shaft 79. The inner surface of this drum isengaged by a shoe 8l, which is pivotally connected to the arm 10 bymeans of a link 80.

7 is a lever pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 70 on the frame, itsupper end moving freely and being guided by ways 77 so that at eachreciprocation of the carriage a pivoted dog 69 on the carriage engagesthe upper end of this lever and moves it in one direction. W'henreleased, the lever is returned to its former position by the spring 10and a rod 9. On the return stroke of the carriage, the dog (59 on thecarriage being pivoted to move in one direction only passes freely overthe lever. The lever is provided with a slot near its pivoted end inwhich is an adjustable pivot 7G. The rod 9 is attached to this pivot andis also attached to and moves the arm 10 with the lever 7. By moving thepivot 7 G on the slotted lever 7, the length of the stroke of the arm 10can be Varied. lhe arm 1() is pivoted at its upper end on the shaft 7 9,and swings freely thereon.

The link which connects the shoe to the arm 10 is pivoted a little belowand at one side of the pivot of said arm, so that when the arm isoseillated in one direction, the shoe is brought in frietional Contactwith the inner surface of the drum and operates to rotate the same.During the reverse stroke of the arm, the shoe is released and movesfreely.

Surrounding the drum is a band 75, one end of which is fastened to theframe, the other end being fastened to a lever 72 by means of a screwthreaded member 91 extending through a leg 92 on the lever, and providedwith an adjusting nut to adjust the band. This lever is pivoted to theframe at 74 and carries an adjustable weight 78 on its outer end. Thisband acts as a friction brake to hold the drum when the shoe 8l is notin action.

7l is a crank connected to a pinion 78, which pinion is in mesh withgear teeth on the drum 8 to manually rotate the same and for manuallyraising and lowering the platform. To clear the shoe Sl from the drinnwhen so manually operating the same, the lever is prolonged inward as at93 and slidably connected at its inner end to one end of an auxiliarylever 94 intermediately pivoted on the frame and engaging the shoe Sl atthe other end to lift the same clear of the drum when the lever 72 ismanually lifted to slackcn the band 7 83 is a belt shifter which isprovided with a handle to manually shift a driving belt (not shown) fromthe tight pulley 12 to the loose pulley 18 and vice versa.

G4. is a hand wheel on the shaft 1l to manually operate the same.

ln operation'the carriage is reciproeatml on the frame, the rollers 42and 43 are rotated downward at their adjacent sides at eaeh stroke ofthe carriage at the same speed that the carriage travels. thus feedingthe material evenly to and fro upon the platform. At the termination ofeach stroke of the carriage as the driving mechanism thereof is suddenlyreversed, the shock is relieved by the sliding movement of the raek andthe springs and brake thus enable the machine to be run at a high speedwithout undue strains, shock or breakage. At each alternate traverse ofthe carriage the platform is lowered sufficiently to accommodate theincreasing stork thereon. The smoother bars spread and smooth the fabricevenly before reaching the feed rolls, thus laying the same uniformlyand smoothly, both longitudinally and transversely, whereby when cut,each superposed piece will be of the same size and shape. lVhe-n theplatform reaches its lower limit, it may be run out from beneath thecarriage and the material thereon removed. The platform is then replacedand restored to its elevated position,

and the operation of the machine repeated.

`What l claim is 1. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocablecarriage, a pair of rollers on the carriage to feed the fabric, meansfor rotating the rollers, and a series of fixed hars mounted on thecarriage, each bar having a convex surface to engage the fabric tospread and smooth the same.

2. A cloth piling machine comprising` a reciprocable carriage, rollersjournaled on Athe carriage to engage and feed the fabric, means forrotating` the rollers, posts mounted on the carriage, and bars carriedby the posts and having longitudinally and transversely convex surfacesto engage, smooth and spread the fabric.

3. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocablecarriage, a pair ofrollers journaled on the carriage, means for rotating the rollers, apair of bars having opposing conveX surfaces to alternately engage thefabric, a second pair of bars having oppositely acting convex edges tosuccessively engage the fabric posts, mounted on the carriage andsupporting said bars, and a stationary guide roller mounted above thepath of said bars and carriage.

4C. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, rollersmounted on the carriage, a smoother also mounted on the carriage andhaving bars provided with convex surfaces to engage the fabric, astationary guide roller located above the path of said smoother andcarriage, and a fixed chute to guide the fabric to the guide roller.

5. A cloth piling machine having a reciprocable carriage, and means forreciprocating the carriage comprising a rack, a driving shaft extendingparallel with the path of the carriage, a shaft mounted on the carriage,and connected to the driving shaft and driven thereby, two gears looseon the shaft, a gear oppositely engaged by the loose gears, a piniondriven by said last named gear and engaging the rack, a clutch adaptedto alternately connect the loose gears with the shaft, and means forautomatically shifting the clutch at each end of the traverse of thecarriage.

G. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a shaftmounted on the carriage, a driving shaft, a sleeve journaled in thecarriage slidably connected to the driving shaft and driven thereby, apinion on the sleeve and driving the shaft on the carriage, two bevelgears loose on said shaft and spaced apart, a bevel gear between saidloose gears and oppositely engaged thereby, a clutch on the shaftbetween the loose gears and alternately connecting the same to theshaft, means for shifting the clutch at the end of eachtraverse of thecarriage, a pinion driven by the bevel gear, and a rack engaged by saidpinion.

7. A cloth piling machine having a reciprocable carriage, means fordriving the carriage comprising a shaft journaled on the carriage, meansfor continuously rotating the shaft, two gears loose on the shaft andspaced apart, a bevel gear oppositely engaged by said loose gears, aclutch adapted to alternately connect the loose gears with the shaft,means for automatically shifting the clutch at the end of each traverseof the carriage, a pinion driven by the bevel gear, and a rack engagedby the pinion; a pair of rollers on the carriage, and gears connectingtherollers and the shaft.

8. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a drivingshaft and a rack near the path of the carriage and parallel therewith, asleeve on the carriage surrounding the driving shaft and splinedthereto, a pinion on the sleeve, a shaft journaled on the carriage, agear on the shaft and engaged by the pinion, a pair of rollers driven bythe shaft, two bevel gears loose on the shaft and spaced apart, a bevelgear oppositely engaged by the loose gears, a pinion connected to thebevel gear and engaging the rack, a clutch between the loose gears andadapted to alternately connect said gears with the shaft, and means forshifting said clutch at the end of each traverse of the carriage.

9. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a shaftmounted on the carriage, means for constantly rotating said shaft, twogears loose on said shaft and adapted to drive the carriage in oppositedirections, a clutch splined on the shaft and alternately connectingsaid gears to the shaft, a longitudinally movable rod connected to theclutch to move the same, collars on the rod, latches to alternatelyengage the collars and hold the clutch in engagement with the respectivegears, springs engaging the collars to move the rod, an arm adapted toalternately compress the springs and to alternately release the latches,and means for shifting the arm at the end of each traverse of thecarriage.

10. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a shaftmounted on the carriage, means for constantly rotating the shaft, twogears loose on said shaft and adapted to drive the carriage in oppositedirections, a clutch splined to said shaft and adapted to alternatelyconnect the said gears with the shaft, springs to shift said clutch,latches to alternately hold said clutch in engagement with therespective gears, and an arm adapted to alternately compress saidsprings and to alternately release said latches.

11. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, two gearsadapted to alternately drive the carriage in opposite directions, ashaft on the carriage, means for rotating the shaft, a clutch adapted toalternately connect said gears with` said shaft, a spring to shift theclutch, a latch to hold the clutch in engagement with a gear and also tohold the spring under tension, and an arm to release the latch at theend of the traverse of the carriage.

12. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a shaftjournaled on the carriage, means for rotating the shaft, two gears`loose on the shaft and adapted to drive the carriage in oppositedirections, a clutch. on the shaft adapted to alternately connect thegears with the shaft, a longitudinally movable rod connected to theclutch to move the same, two fixed collars and a slidable collar on therod, springs between the fixed collars and the slidable collar, latchesalternately engaging the fixed collars, and a shifting arm to operatethe latches and the sliding collar.

13. A cloth piling machine comprising a frame, a reciprocable carriage,a rack and a driving shaft mounted on the frame, a pinion on thecarriage driven by the driving shaft and slidable thereon, a shaft onthe carriage, a gear on the last named shaft driven by the pinion, twogears loose on the said shaft and spaced apart, a bevel gear and aclutch between the loose gears, a longitudi nally movable rod connectedto the clutch., two fixed collars and a slidable collar on the rod,springs between the slidable collar and the fixed collars, latches toalternately engage the fixed collars, an arm to alternately shift thelatches and to move the slidable collar, and a pinion driven by thebevel gear and engaging the rack.

14%. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a pinionon the carriage, a rack capable of limited longitudinal movement engagedby the pinion, springs engaging' the ends of the rack, and means forreversibly rotating the pinion to drive the carriage in oppositedirections.

15. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a pinionon the carriage, a rack capable of limited longitudinal movement engagedby the pinion, springs alternatelyl compressed and released by themovement of the rack, a friction brake also engaging the rack, and meansfor reversibly rotating the pinion to drive the carriage in oppositedirections.

16. A cloth piling machine comprising a reciprocable carriage, a pinionon the carriage, a rack capable of limited longitudinal movement engagedby the pinion, a friction brake engaging the rack to retard the movementof the same, and means for reversibly rotating the pinion to drive thecarriage in opposite directions.

17. A cloth piling machine having a reciprocable carriage, means fordriving the carriage comprising a rack and a driving shaft near the pathof the carriage, a pinion on the carriage engaging the rack, means forreversibly connecting the pinion with the driving shaft, an arm tooperate said means, adjustable stops in the path of said arms, rollersmounted on the carriage, means for connecting the rollers with thedriving shaft, a smoother mounted on the carriage above the rollers andhaving bars to alternately e11- gage thc fabric, and a stationary guideroller supported above the path of the smoother and carriage.

18. X cloth piling machine comprising a vertically movable table, meansfor raising and lowering the table, a shaft to operate said means, adrum on the shaft, a lever pivoted on the shaft, a shoe engaging theinterior of the drum, a link connecting the shoe and the lever, a secondlever adjustably connected to the first lever, a reciprocable carriage,and a dog on the carriage to engage the second lever and move the same.

19. A cloth piling machine, comprising a vertically movable table, areciprocable carriage above the table, means for raising and loweringthe table, a shaft to operate said means, a drum on the shaft, a bandsurrounding the drum, a lever and weight attached to one end of theband, a fixed snpport for the other end of the band, a lever pivoted onthe shaft, a shoe slidably cngaging the ilmer surface of the drum, alink connecting the slice and lever, and means for reciprocating thelever at each reciprocation of the carriage.

20. A cloth piling machine, comprising a vertically movable table, meansfor vertically adjusting the table, a crank connected to said means tooperate the same, a drum to ope 'ate said means, a reciprocating shoeand a brake engaging the drum, and a lever adapted to applyl the b 'aliewhen moved in one direction, and also adapted to simultaneously releasethe brake and shoe when moved in the opposite direction.

21. A cloth piling machine, com rising a vertically movable table, ashaft or vertically adjnsting the table, a drum on the shaft, a frictionshoe engaging the drum, a lever to operate the shoe, a brake bandengaging the drum, a lever to operate the brake band, an auxiliary leveroperated by the first named lever and engaging the shoe to disengage thesame from the drum, and a crank to manually operate the shaft when theshoeand band are released.

22. A cloth piling machine, comprising a frame, a table verticallymovable in the frame, a shaft journaled in the frame and adapted tovertically adjust the table, a drum and gear on the shaft, a pinionengaging the gear7 a crank connected to the pinion to manually operatethe same, a lever pivoted on the shaft, a friction shoe connected to thelever and engaging the interior of the drum, a brake band surroundingthe drum and attached to the frame at one end, a lever piv oted on theframe and adjustably attached to the other end of the brake band, saidlever also having an inward extension, and an auxiliary leverintermediately pivotecl to the frame at one end andoperatecl by lthefirst named lever and also engaging the shoe at the other end to releasethe same.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HARRY A. SHIELDS. Vitnesses GEORGIANA CHACE, LUTHER V. MoUL'roN.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 945,249.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters PatentNo. 945,249,

grant-ed January 4, 1910, upon the application of Harry A. Shields, ofGrand Rapids, Michigan, `for an improvement in Cloth-.Filing Machines,was erroneously Written and printed .L. C. F. h/Iauhinery Company,whereas said naine should have I heen Written and printed S. U. F.llaa/ruwweg'(hmpamy, as shown by the record of assignments in thisottice: and that the said Letters Patent should he read with thiscorrection therein that the Same may Conform to the record of the easein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D., 1910.

` e. o. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

